Obscure Music Monday: Joplin's Reflection Rag

ldskjScott Joplin (c. 1867/68 - April 1, 1917) was an African-American composer and pianist, who came to be known as the "King of Ragtime Writers". Joplin was born in to a family of railroad laborers in Texas, but got as much musical knowledge as he could from local teachers, and ended up forming a vocal quartet, and teaching mandolin and guitar. He later left for the south to work as a itinerant musician, and eventually found his way up to Chicago for the World's Fair of 1893, which contributed towards the ragtime craze.

Many people know two of Joplin's most famous rags, The Entertainer and Maple Leaf Rag. There are many other just as wonderful works of his to discover though, like the Reflection Rag.

This incredibly fun and chipper rag starts with a brief little introduction, with both hands in unison before taking off with a bright melody in the right hand while the left keeps busy with an accompaniment part. There are some unison parts interspersed here and there, and the chromatic runs in the left hand add great spice to the work, particularly at the end!